Contract negotiations between KU’s administration and faculty union remain stalled after more than 600 days of bargaining, and Lawrence City Commissioner Amber Sellers has joined those urging KU to end the delays. 

United Academics of KU, the university’s faculty and academic staff union, won its election in April 2024 with 86% of academics voting in favor, but it still doesn’t have its first contract. 

Michelle Heffner Hayes, a professor in the department of theatre and dance, said UAKU has made progress during the last two years, but there are still three main sticking points. 

The first is regarding compensation. Hayes said KU made a “last, best and final” offer of across-the-board 1% raises, which the union has argued isn’t even enough to keep up with inflation.

UAKU is also still urging inclusion of binding arbitration, a system where complaints and disputes get sorted out by an independent third party. Currently, those disputes are settled by the chancellor. 

Finally, the union wants a less strenuous review process for tenured faculty. The Kansas Board of Regents last month approved a tougher tenure police that would shorten the amount of time between reviews to five years. Union representatives want KU to agree to the previous policy of review every seven years.

“This affects so many people,” Hayes said. “It affects our students. It affects their parents or the people who support them in knowing where their tuition dollars are going and the quality of life of the people who are teaching their students. It affects the economic impact in the state of all the people who graduate and get jobs.”

KU spokesperson Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said that “University of Kansas leaders welcome continued conversations with faculty and instructors about ways to move the university forward.”

Sellers, who was recently appointed to the National League of Cities University Communities Council — a group of officials from across the country representing cities with colleges — published a letter addressed to KU Chancellor Doug Girod last week airing concerns over the slow pace of bargaining and calling on KU to advance negotiations. 

“The workplace improvements being negotiated are central to supporting high-quality public higher education, strengthening recruitment and retention and supporting positive learning and working conditions for students and employees alike,” Sellers wrote in the letter.

She highlighted the connection between Lawrence and KU and how the decisions made on campus impact residents across Lawrence.

“While collective bargaining is complex, the lack of visible progress on key proposals has raised concern among community members and stakeholders, including myself,” Sellers said. “Timely, good-faith engagement is essential to reaching an agreement and sustaining trust, stability and shared momentum in a community where KU plays a central economic and civic role.”

Hayes said the union was grateful for the public support from a city official. UAKU has publicly decried the lack of a contract during recent months, including holding multiple rallies in front of the chancellor’s office. 

“I’m glad that she pointed out that she’s a two-time KU alum,” Hayes said. “I’m a KU alum. I came here because I believed in the mission of this institution. I’m a Jayhawk, you know? And I think that perspective really helps send the message home.”

KU administrators last week postponed a scheduled bargaining session, requesting additional time to prepare proposals. Hayes said this was a good move after members of UAKU had pointed out errors in the data KU was using. 

“I appreciate that they’re taking time, and I’m glad there’s some movement,” Hayes said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have new dates yet for bargaining, so that concerns me a little bit, because the whole process has been delayed.”

Hayes said the next step is to get new bargaining sessions on the schedule, where UAKU hopes it can iron out the details on the final points of contention in the contract. 

It’s been nearly two years since the union won its election. 

“It’s time for a fair contract,” Hayes said. 

Cuyler Dunn (he/him), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since April 2022, is a student at the University of Kansas School of Journalism. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School where he was the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Budget, and was named the 2022 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year. Read his complete bio here. Read more of his work for the Times here.

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